HIT: Cayuga County officials and legislators know they're in for a major hit from a state Medicaid audit of the county's mental health department, and it certainly could not come at a worse time.

One legislator has pegged the possible chargeback to the county as ranging between $500,000 and $2 million. While either end of that range is a considerable amount of money, there's also a big difference between the two figures.

That's why it's crucial at this stage in the process for the state's Medicaid inspector general's office to finish their work as quickly as possible so the county can better plan for its future. The on-the-ground audit work itself was wrapped up a few weeks ago; now the process of putting together the final report is taking place.

At a time when every county government in the state is trying to figure out its financial future given the meltdown of the state's revenue structure, the state agency conducting this audit should do everything possible to avoid dragging out the process.

Cayuga County needs to adopt its 2009 budget less than three months from now. Ideally, a final Medicaid audit report should be delivered within a few weeks and negotiation over the amount of money the county must pay back should be completed soon thereafter. That will enable the county Legislature to have a solid number to put into the county budget, and they'll have a much better sense of what programs and services can stay in the coming year.

To ensure that process happens, though, local officials need to stay on top of the audit issue - constant communication with the inspector general's office is vital. And they could use some help from their state representatives, as well, who can help make sure the agency understands the importance of the situation.

There's a temptation to duck and cover when bad financial news is coming.

But to minimize pain to the public that counts on its county government, this Medicaid audit problem must be dealt with quickly and directly.